Locomotive watering apparatus



July 30, 1929.

A. H. WOODWARD- LOCOMOTIVE WATERING APPARATUS Filed May 31, 1928 2Sheets-Sheet l Inventor 3 w AJV. Woodward A tlomeyS July so, 1929. A{ H.WOODWARD 1,72 3 9 LOCOMOTIVE WATERING APPARATUS 'Fi led May 51, 1928 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor AJE. Woodward A U0; neyS Patented July 38, 1929.

EJ'ETE S'FTS arcane trier.

LOCOMOTIVE WATEBING APPARATUS.

Application filed May 31,

My invention relates to apparatus for supplying water to railwaylocomotives and has for its object the provision of apparatus of thecharacter designated which shall be movable longitudinally with respectto the locomotive and thus avoid the necessity of accurate spotting ofthe locomotive for the purpose of taking water.

A further object of my invention 1s to provide apparatus for wateringlocomotives, movable to various positions with respect to the locomotiveand capable of delivering water to locomotives on either or both tracksof parallel railway tracks.

As is well known in the art to which my invention relates, modernrailway trains, both passenger and freight, are of such length andweight that it is extremely ditlicult to stop locomotives, with thetrain attached thereto, accurately at a water crane so that water canbesupplied to the locomotive, without serious shocks to the train. The

difliculty is so great that it is almost the uni versal rule on railwaysfor the train to be stopped short of the water crane and for thelocomotive to be uncoupled from the train and spotted alone for takingwater. This practice is objectionable. for the reason that, when thelocomotive is uncoupled from the train, leaks in the brake pipecause-the brakes on the train to set and it is necessary,-when thelocomotive is again coupled to the train, for the brakes to be pumpedoff and again tested before leaving, all of which occasionsobjectionable delays. It is accordingly very de sirable that means beprovided whereby water can be supplied to the locomotive when stoppedwith the train, within reasonable limits of space, thereby avoidinguncoupling the locomotive from the train.

These and other difficulties are overcome by means of my invention and Iprovide watering apparatus wherein the supply means is movablelongitudinally of the locomotive for a substantial distanceso thataccurate spotting of the locomotive is obviated. Briefly, my inventioncomprises an elongated trough supported on tracks in an elevatedposition alongside the railway track and having spouts at both ends fordelivery of the water into the locomotive tank. The trough is easilymovable the full length of its supporting structure and means areprovided for supplying water to the trough in all positions within thelimits of its travel.

Apparatus embodying features of my in- 1928. Serial No. 281,920.

vention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis application, wherein Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of theapparatus, and

2 is a sectional view taken along the line II II of'liig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, I show parallel railway tracks 10 and 11,midway between which are provided a plurality of upright intermediatestructural frame members '12, and end frame members 13. All-of the framemembers are provided with side braces 14 disposed at an angle to theupright members. Supported on the tops of the intermediate members 12and secured to the end members 13in any suitable manner is a mono-rail1-6. Extending longitudinally of the upright members and secured nearthe top thereof are opposed channels 17 and 18, the mono rail 16 andchannel rails 17 and 18 serving as a trough track for my improvedapparatus.

At 21 is shown a trough, which is made of relatively lightsheet metaland is provided on its underside with a plurality of flanged wheels 22whichride on the mono-rail 16. Extending downwardly fromthe upper sidesof the trough 21 and suitably secured thereto are opposedpairs ofstructural members 24 and 26 having wheels 27 and28 journaled in theirlower ends, which wheels ride in the channels 17 and 18 and prevent thetrough 21 from t pping. The trough is freely movable, on the tracks thusprovided, from end to end of the mono-rail 16, and, in all positions,be-

tween its limits of travel, is supplied with water from any convenientsource of supply,

as through a conduit 31 having a valve 32 interposed therein.

In order that the trough 21 may be readily moved to the desiredposition, I provide pull ropes 33 and 34 at the opposed ends thereof,

which ropes run over sheaves 36 and 37 carried by the end members 13 andextend clownwardly over the ends of the frame within ready reach of aman on the ground. Bufier springs 38 and 39 are carried by the members13 to prevent damage to the trough 21 which might occur should it bebanged against the end members At each end of the trough 21, in thelower portion thereof, is a T connection 41 and connected to each Tconnection are spouts 42 and 43 extending respectively over the tracks10 and 11. The spouts 42' and 43 are connected to the T connection 41 byball 2 joints 44 so that water can only run there from when a spout islowered. In order that the spouts may be normally in a raised position,I provide counter-balance weights 46 attached to chains l7 which runover sheaves 48 and are secured to each of the spouts at 4-9. At 51 isshown, in dot and dash lines, a locomotive tender in position to receivewater from the lowered spout l2. With all the other spouts raised atthat time, water only runs from the lowered spout.

From the foregoing description, the operation of apparatus made inaccordance with my invention will be apparent. A locomotive with itstrain is stopped at any convenient place within the limits of travel ofthe trough 21, and the trough is moved, by means of one of the pullropes 33 or 34, to a position where one of the spouts 42 or l3 may belowered and entered in the man-hole of the locomotive tank. The valve 32is then opened to supply waterto the trough, whereupon it runs into thelocomotive tank. The ball joints 4% provide some lateral flexibility forthe spouts so that the spouts may be entered to deliver water into thelocomotive tender without accurate spotting of the trough 21.

' From the foregoing description it will be apparent thatI have devisedan improved watering app ratus for locomotives which is simple ofconstruction and easy of opera tion and by means of which a locomotivemay be stopped with its train within reasonable limits and the watersupply apparatus moved to a position to discharge water into thelocomotive tender. t will be obvious that this apparatus maybeduplicated to provide water for a number of locomotives at one t me suchas might be required with double leaders.

While I have shown my. invention in but one form, it will. be obvious tothose skilled in the art that it is not so limited but issusceptibleofvarious changes and modifications without departing fromthe spirit thereof, and I desire therefore that only such limitationsshall be placed thereupon as are imposod by the prior art. or as arespecifically set forth in the appended claims.

lVhat Iclaim is:

V 1. In locomotive watering apparatus, the combination of a troughbodily movable longitudinally of the locomotive, a plurality of spoutscarried by the trough and adapted to discharge into the locomotive tank,and means for supplying the trough with water.

2. In locomotive watering apparatus, the combination of elevated troughbodily movable longitudinally of the locomotive, a pluralityof spoutscarried by the trough and adapted to discharge into the locomotive tank,and means for supplying the trough with water.

3. In locomotive watering apparatus, the combination of an elevatedtrough movable longitudinally of the locomotive, a plurality of spacedspouts carried by the trough on both sides thereof and adapted todischarge into the locomotive tank, and meansfor Supplying the troughwith water.

4. In locomotive watering apparatus, the combination of an elevatedtrough, supporting rollers for the trough to permit its movementlongitudinally of the locomotive, a plu rality of spaced dischargespouts mounted to be raised and lowered and carried by the trough, eachof said spouts being adapted to discharge into the locomotive tank whenlowered, means for supplying the trough with water, and means for movingthe trough to proper position for a spout to discharge into the tank.

5. In locomotive watering apparatus for parallel railway tracks, thecombination of a trough supported for longitudinal movement between thetracks and elevated higher than the locomotive tank, spaced spouts oneach side of the trough, a ball joint connecting each of the spouts tothe trough and arranged to prevent the flow of water from the spoutexcept when it is lowered, and means for supplying the trough with waterin all positions within its limits of movement.

- 6. In locomotive watering apparatus for parallel railway tracks, thecombination of a trough supported for longitudinal move-- ment betweenthe tracks and elevated higher than the locomotivetank, spaced spout-son each side of the trough, a ball joint connecting each of the spoutsto the trough and arranged toprevent the tiow of waterfrom a spoutexcept hen it is lowered, counterbalanced means for normally holding thespouts in raised position, and means for supplying the trough with waterin all positions within its limits of movement.

7. In locomotive watering apparatus for parallel-railway tracks, thecombination of a plurality of upright structural members arrangedbetween the railway tracks, a trough track mounted on the upright framemembers, a trough having wheels mounted on the trough track and adaptedto be moved from end to end of said track, a pair of spouts at each endof the trough and extending outwardly towards the parallel tracks, aball joint connecting each of the spouts to the trough and arranged toprevent the flow of water from the spout except when it is lowcred,counterbalanced means for normally holding the spouts in raisedposition, and means for supplying the trough with water in all positionswithin its limits of travel.

Intestimony whereof I my .si 'nature.

ALLEN HARVEY woonwilnn.

